Characteristics of a Successful Convention Center
November 2007

To view this report, click here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/docs/PosCle.pdf

Purpose
The idea of building a new convention center has been advanced and discussed for well over a decade. With the introduction of the Medical Mart project and a funding source in place, it seems that, in our estimation, a new Center is the closest it has ever been to becoming a reality. Over the years, a great deal of research has been done in Cleveland on the specifications of a new Center. In preparation for the planning to come, Positively Cleveland culled its resources to compile the most current information on the elements of successful centers. This information is meant to further inform the community and ready us for the Convention Center decisions to come in the months and years ahead.

Moving Forward
Cleveland is an appealing destination for business travelers. This city already has many foundational elements in place, a fact that is demonstrated by Economist Magazine’s recent (2006) rating of Cleveland as the sixth best destination for business travelers in the world and by a CVB-commissioned study on destination attractiveness that put Cleveland in the top 30 of 140 cities with convention centers for most categories that are important to conventioneers. Cleveland also rates among the top cities in the nation for attractiveness as it pertains to the arts, recreation, nightlife, ease of access, and safety. We have these amenities as the result of an infrastructure built to accommodate what was once the fifth largest city in the U.S. It remains a great destination for visitors and residents alike. Until now, Cleveland has never been able to fully capitalize on that fact in the convention market.

Cleveland has the opportunity to compete with those who have succeeded with the launch of new or expanded convention centers by offering a convention center with flexibility and adequate meeting and exhibit space to complement the amenities and accessibility already available.

Acknowledgments + Notes
This paper was researched and compiled by Positively Cleveland staff: Kelly Brewer, Tamera Lash Brown, Samantha Fryberger, Adam Solloway and Lorelei Sugano . Other research documents are available by request.

This document is posted on the Cool Cleveland site with permission of Positively Cleveland, the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland.

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